A petite, precocious child, Lisa began dancing at 3. By 7, she aspired to be the next Shirley Temple. All the world was mine, and I was there to entertain people, to make them happy. Whether she is talking to one person or addressing a full auditorium, she enthralls listeners with her smiling eyes, her easy laugh, her excited tone, and the deliberate way she chooses her words.
And like a true performer, she convinces her audience to imagine another world, one without boundaries. During the next 12 years, she taught life sciences and language; she also advised the cheerleading and pep squads.
And what I enjoyed the most was helping children overcome their fears and gain more confidence. He and Bettye spent many weekends with the high school students, making school spirit signs and hosting student luncheons—using the fine China—in their home. Those were powerful moments for me. Despite these gifts, she would eventually experience her own walk with private pain. During the next several years, she struggled with infertility and underwent several medical treatments, in hopes of carrying a child of her own.
That was not to be. Miller to make a difference in all of our lives. Infertility made her stronger, and it taught her not to dwell on what she could not control.
When a girlfriend gives birth, Lisa quickly arrives at the hospital with a new baby blanket and reassuring words for the sometimes-nervous mother. There was a respect for everyone on that stage, and children were comfortable in their skin. She wanted to know of their plans after graduation, and how she could help achieve them. Chad still remembers how Lisa made him feel—that she always had time for him and that he was important.
